Polydrug use is a growing trend particularly
amongst regular party-goers, for whom
consuming alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines
and synthetic drugs such as ‘ecstasy’
(MDMA) becomes part of their lifestyle for
a while. On the other hand it is rare for
school students to experiment with heroin
and cocaine (lifetime use ranges from 0 %
to 4 %).
Official surveys of drug use amongst school
students tend to under-represent drug use
amongst vulnerable groups who are at risk
of developing drug problems.